Ed Perlmutter , candidate for Congressional District 7

How would choosing you for this office improve the lives of residents of the district?

Since I was elected I have never lost sight of the number one reason why I do this job: to help the hard-working folks of the 7th Congressional District. I help improve the lives of Coloradans by focusing on our infrastructure needs, ensuring access to affordable health care, and supporting public education, public lands, and a strong economy with good-paying jobs with opportunities to pursue the training and skills needed to get those jobs.

What should Congress do to address the nation’s opioid epidemic?

The first priority is to deliver the much-needed funding and resources for communities fighting this deadly epidemic. There is no one size fits all solution, but we must work to both treat those suffering from this illness and also address the root causes of this epidemic. I voted for the SUPPORT Patients and Communities Act, the Overdose Prevention and Patient Safety Act, and the INTERDICT Act to take meaningful steps to combating the opioid epidemic. Attachments area

What is your position on immigration reform?

I strongly support comprehensive immigration reform and believe we need to establish a path to citizenship for people who have not committed any crimes, pay taxes, and are learning English. This includes securing our borders with new technologies, cracking down on organized crime and human trafficking, and streamlining and modernizing the visa process. We must also allow young undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children to remain here legally.

What can be done to improve the nation’s health care system?

The Affordable Care Act has helped millions of Americans and thousands of Coloradans gain access to quality healthcare coverage and protecting individuals with pre-existing conditions. I will work with anyone to improve the ACA and I will continue to fight against attempts to repeal or replace it. I believe we must demand transparency in healthcare prices by requiring public disclosure for every healthcare product, service and procedure so patients can make informed decisions about their healthcare.

What are two other issues that demand attention from Congress, and why?

Here in Colorado and in many places across the country, we must make sure local infrastructure can keep up with growth and be sustainable for generations to come. Instead of massive tax cuts for those at the top, we need to fix our roads, bridges, electrical grids, broadband, and water infrastructure. In addition, I believe Congress should pass common sense gun reforms like universal background checks, banning bump stocks, limiting assault weapons, and allowing law enforcement the discretion to intervene if red flags appear warning of impending gun violence. Too many families in Colorado and across the country have been impacted by senseless and preventable gun violence.

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